O'Doul's Appoints Chris Whittaker (Chefs)

O'DOUL'S APPOINTS CHRIS WHITTAKER AS EXECUTIVE CHEF
(Directly from the press release.)


There is excitement brewing in the kitchen at O’Doul’s Restaurant & Bar! The management of The Listel Hotel is thrilled to announce the appointment of Chris Whittaker to the position of Executive Chef.

Since arriving in Vancouver in 2000, Whittaker has been an integral player in some of Vancouver’s most interesting kitchens. Working under David Griffiths at the Delta Vancouver Suites and later taking the helm as Executive Chef at the Pacific Palisades Hotel and Zin Restaurant, Whittaker has garnered praise for his eclectic cooking style and passion for local products and ethically sound ingredients.

“O’Doul’s has a solid food and beverage program and very capable people at the front and back of the house,� states Whittaker. “I’m impressed by the volume of business the restaurant has done year over year and by its steady trajectory towards excellence.� Whittaker notes, “I think where I can make a difference is in my innovative, contemporary approach, and my experience and commitment around sustainability and local suppliers.�

Whittaker began his culinary career at the tender age of sixteen in Thunder Bay, Ontario. After working in a number of the finer restaurants with chefs of diverse backgrounds and styles, he turned his attention west. After a stop in the Rockies at the prestigious Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Whittaker made his way to Vancouver – a city perfectly suited to his creative and contemporary sensibility.

“We have known and admired Chris’s work for a long time,� states Calvin DesChene, Assistant GM, responsible for food and beverage operations. “We are delighted that he has agreed to come onboard and are confident he will breathe some fresh air into our menus and operations. We are very proud of our product, but also committed to its constant improvement and evolution." Adds DesChene, “Chris is obsessively interested in new and local products, in new ideas both global and local, and in issues like food security and sustainability: these are all directions that we’ve wanted to move a little faster in for a long time. We’re glad Chris will be here to guide our way.�

For additional information on O'Doul's Restaurant & Bar please view the website at odoulsrestaurant.com. For reservations or consumer information call 604-661-1400.